Means for supplying a combustible mixture to internal-combustion engines



0.1. SHIVER'S. v MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE T0 INTERNALCOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30. I914.

Patented 0m; 24, 1916.

drvllvalillllllrwllle l flitting UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE I4. SHIVERS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR F ONE-FOURTH TOGRAN- VILLE HOGAN AND ONE-FOURTH TO FRANK Y. GLADNEY, BOTH OF ST. LOUIS,MIS- SOUBI. I

MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE TO INTERNAL-COMBUSTIONENGINES.

Application filed January 30, 1914.

To allzohom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE L. Srnvnns, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have inventednew and useful Improvements in Means for Supplying a Combustible Mixtureto Internal-Combustion Engines, of

. which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for sup: plying a combustible mixture tointernal combustion engines.

It has for its principal objects the utilization of the gas whichaccumulates in the supply tank above the body of gasolene therein; toeffect. a saving in the gasolene supply; and to attain certain otheradvantages which will hereinafter more fully appear.

The invention is adapted more particularly for use in motor vehicles andthe like, but it is not limited to such use.

It consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combinations ofparts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly in side elevationand partly in section, of a portion of an automobile equipped with adevice embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a section on an enlarged scaleof the valved box which controls the supply of the combustible mixtureto the intake manifold of the engine; Fig. 3 is a section on the line3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the coupling between thesupply tank and conducting pipe; and Fig. 5 is a detail view of the airintake collar for the tank.

In' the drawing, 1 represents an ordinary supporting frame or chassis ofan automobile on which is mounted the body 2 and internal combustionengine As shown, the engine is of the four cylinder type, and it isprovided with an intake manifold 4 having branches 5 through which thecombustible mixture is supplied to the respective cylinders. Attached tothe end of the manlfold is an ordinary carbureter 6 which is connectedby a pipe 7 with a gravity feed gasolenc supply tank 8, which latter islocated under the front. seat 9 of the automobile. The engine is alsoprovided with an exhaust manifold 10 having branches 11 whichcommunicate with the respective cvlinders. said Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Oct. 524, 1916.

Serial No. 815,341.

manifold having a pipe extension 12 extendmg downward and rearward underthe body of the automobile, as is the usual practice. At the top of thegasolene supply tank 8 1s a nipple 13 to which is attached an elbowcoupling 14. From this elbow coupling leads a. pipe 15 which isconnected to a valved box or chamber 16, said box being attached to theintake manifold 4 between the branches 5 thereof and the carbureter 6,and the pipe 15 being coiled around the exhaust manifold 10.

As shown in the drawing, the box 16 is made in two sections 17, 18, andsecured together by a screwthreaded engagement. A partition plate "19 issecured between the two sections. This plate is provided with aseries ofperforations 20, and cooperating therewith is a rotary disk 21 havingperforations 92 therein adapted to register with said perforations 20.This disk is provided with a central stem 23 which extends through atubular projection 24 on the inside of the section 18; and said stem 23is provided on its end, outside of the box, with a lever arm 25 by whichthe disk may be rotated.

In the section 17 is a disk check-valve 26 which is yieldingly heldagainst the partition plate 19 by a spring 27. As shown. the

check-valve 26 is provided with a tubular stem 28 which works over aguide pin or stem 29 provided on a plate 30, which latter is secured toa perforated or gauze strainer 31 which issecured at its margin to thesection 17. Preferably this strainer is concidal, and arranged with itsapex toward the partition 19. It is also preferable to place a strainer31? within the section 18 between the inlet opening 32 and saidpartition plate 19. As shown, the inlet opening is at the side of thebox, while the outlet opening is through a nipple 33 at theend of thehousing. This arrangement of the respective openings may be modified orchanged to suit different conditions .in the application of theinvention to engine structures of different types.

At the top of the gasolene tank 8 is an .dust or grit. Below thisstrainer is a spiral in a swirling motion whereby it more readilycommingles with the gas in the tank. It is also preferable to provide aspiral 37 in] the nipple 13 to prevent the splashing gas'olene fromentering the coupling member 14 and said coupling member 14: ispreferably provided with a strainer 38.

Asshown in the drawing, the throttle between the carbureter and theintake mani fold is operated by a'rod 39 which is connected to a footlever 40 adjacent to the dashboard. However, the throttle may beoperated in any desirable manner. The ro tary valve member 21 in the box16 may be operated through the medium of any desirable device. As shown,a small tube 41 is fastened along the steering column 42, and extendedin proximity to the box 16 where it is attached to a supporting arm 4:3.A relatively stifi' wire i4: is slipped through this tube 41, and it issecured at one end to said lever'arm 25 and at its opposite end to anoperating lever or handle 45 which is mounted on the steering post inproximity to the steering wheel 46.

The constant shaking or agitation of thegasolene in the tank 8 While theautomobile is in motion causes an accumulation of vapor in the top ofthe tank so that after the en glue is well started the supply ofgasolene to the carbureter may be reduced considerably, and the throttlevalve may be closed to a relatively small opening and the valve member21 in the box 16 may be operated to admitthe mixture of air and vaporwhich is taken from the top of the tank 8 direct into the manifold 4above the throttle valve, thus utilizing in doing useful work thegaseous vapors which are usually wasted through the vent opening, orwhich remain dormant in the tank above the body of gasolene. By theapplication of this auxiliary gas supply to the motor an increasedmileage is obtained from a given quantity of gasolene.

In some cases, the mixture from the top of the tank 8 is used to augmentthe mixture from the carburetor, while in other cases the supply throughthe carbureter may be entirely cut off, depending upon weather conditions and the desired richness of the ex plosive charge.

Obviously the apparatus admits of considerable modification withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, do not wish to belimited to the specific instruction and arrangement shown.

I claim:

1. The combination of a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid,said tank having an air inlet, a carbureter, means for conducting theliquid from said supply tank to said carbureter, a pipe for conductingthe combustible mixture from said carbureter, means for controlling thecommunication between said carbureter and said conducting pipe, a pipeconnected to said supply .tank abovethe body of liquid therein andcommunicating. with said conducting pipe for the combustible mixturefrom said carbureter, and means for controlling the flow through saidpipe leading from the topv from said carbureter at Will.

gasolene supply tank, a carbureter, a pipe connection for conducting thegasole to said carbureter from said supply tan a pipe connection fromsaid carbureter to the; combustion chamber of the engine, a throttlevalve for controlling the passage of the combustible mixture throughsaid second mentioned pipe connection, a valve box communicating withsaid second mentioned pipe connection, a valve in said box forcontrolling the flow therethrough, a check-valve coiiperating with saidcontrol ling valve, and a pipe connection between said box and saidgasolene supply tank above the body of gasolene therein.

3. The vmeans for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine,comprising a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, said tankhaving an air inlet above the doody of liquid therein, acarbureter,means for conducting the liquid from said tank to said carbureter, meansfor conducting the combustible mixture from said carbureter to thecombustion chamber of the engine, and a pipe connected to said tankabove the body of liquid therein and communicating with the combustionchamber of the engine.

4. The means for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine,comprising a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid and having anopen air inlet above said liquid, a carbureter, means for conducting thehydrocarbon liquid to the carbureter, means for conducting andcontrolling the mixture from the carbureter to the engine, and means forconducting and controlling a mixture of air and vapor from above thebody of the liquid in the tank to the enine. b 5. The means forsupplying fuel to\an internal combustion engine, comprising a supplytank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, said tank having an air inlet, acarbureter, means for conducting the liquid from said tank to saidcarbureter, means for conducting the combustible mixture from saidcarbureter to thecombustion chamber of the controlling means whereby thecombustiblemixture from the carbureter and the gas from the supply tankmay be supplied either sepuarately or conjointly to the engine 'at W1 6.The means for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine,comprising a supply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, said tankhaving an fopen air inlet above the body of liquid therein, a carburetercommunicating with the intake for the combustible mixture to the engine,means for conducting the hydrocarbon liquid from said tank to saidcarbureter, a valve box communicating with the intake for thecombustible mixture to the engine intermediate said carbureter and theengine, said valve box having a perforated partition, a perfo ratedrotary disk cooperating with said partition for controlling the flowthrough the box, means for turning said disk, a checkvalve in saidbox,'and a pipe connection between said box and said supply tank abovethe body of hydrocarbon liquid therein.

In an apparatus of the character described, a supplytank having atortuous air inlet collar at the top thereof andabove the copies of thispatentthay be obtained for five eents each, by addressing the supplyapparatus engines and the like, comprising a gravity body of liquidtherein, said collarhaving a tortuous passageway therethrough, said tankalso having a tortuous outlet collar at the top thereof, and aconducting pipe connected to said outlet collar and arranged and adaptedfor communication with the fuel intake of an internal combustion engineor the like.

8. The combination with an ordinary fuel for internal combustion feedsupply tank containing a hydrocarbon liquid, a carbureter, means forconducting the liquid from said tank to said carbureter, andmeans forconducting and controlling the combustible mixture from said carbureterto the fuel intake of the engine, of a pipe connected at one end to saidsupply tank above the body of the liquid therein and communicating atits opposite end with the fuel intake of the engine, and means forcontrolling the fiow through said pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in presenceof twosubscribing witnesses. i

CLARENCE L. SHIVERS. Witnesses:

G. A. PENNINGTON,

STELLA HILL;

Washington, D. G.

